Opinions Please!! More than 1 dog

I know each individual case is different but I still would like to know what you have experienced. I have a 7 month old Min Pin who is a great dog but is also the center of attention with no other dogs or kids. My husband is an only child and thinks she won't be happy sharing our time with her or her toys, etc. Just like an only child. I have one sister and think she would like someone to play with. I would want to be careful and try not to get an aggressive personality with our puppy and I would want a younger puppy of her same breed. I have a feeling she may not be the alpha dog although you never know. How have your dogs responded to adding a new member?? Happier alone or do they love their doggy sister or brother??

I would love another dog but it matters even more to me what she would feel about it. I probably won't know until that time comes but maybe I can learn from your experiences.

Dogs are pack animals. So I feel that most dogs are happier with other dog companions. We just got our second dog and Ivan loves him. They are the best of friends. The eat together, sleep together, play with toys. It is cute. But with two dogs rather than one it makes it a lot harder to go anywhere. Good luck with what you decide

She will probbaly be very social. I'd look into getting the same breed, many of the toy dogs are highly clannish. My b/f's evil selfish dominent shih-tzu who demands all the attention still likes my dogs and sleeps and plays with them as long as tehy don't come to close to his person.

My mom had two min pins. One male and one female...but not related. She had a female and her husband got her a male. They were best buddies. They still enjoy human companionship too. I think it's a good thing as long as you have the time, money, room and patience for two dogs. The good thing with min pins is they don't take up much space! They are totally adorable too.

Our Great Pyr, 1/2 Pint, was an only dog outside for about a year until we adopted Lil Bit, an Aussie, from a shelter. Lil Bit was abused and was eights months old when we got her. She was afraid of everything. Well we introduced the dogs and they slept and stayed in separate parts of the pasture and barn for a couple of weeks. I would walk them together and be with them when they were first put together for brief times in the pasture. When they finally shared the same quarters Lil Bit, female, was a different dog, her and 1/2 Pint a male, both fixed, play and play outside. I have so much fun just watching them. They still do their chores, herding and guarding but they enjoy each other. Although 1/2 Pint every so often has to remind Lil Bit who is Alpha. neither one showed any aggression to the other. One is 120 pounds and the other is about 50 pounds.

The inside dogs, are still felling each other out. Peanut has been an "only" dog for six years and when Whatever goes near him he just walks away, although these past few days he is walking away slower. We never leave these two together unless we are in the same room, just in case..

I agree with Jessica...although the dog considers you their pack. We had Nikko for 4 years before we brought ChiChi home. Right away, ChiChi became alpha over Nikko, but with Nikko's personality she didn't seem to mind too much. The only thing I have worried about, since having ChiChi over the past 4 years..is that Cheech is ALWAYS boss. So we have to give that added attention to Nikko. I do think they enjoy having eachother around. Especially when we are gone the entire day, or if we have a sitter come in for the weekend. And, they play together constantly. IMO, I think it's a great idea to add another pup.

I believe all pets should have a buddy, just like a child, they like to have play mates. Of course in my case I went overboard, but they all play very well together and they get into an occasional tiff, but nothing bad.

A while back I would have said I think they need the companionship of another dog, but after what I went thru this morning and have for awhile with aggression and jealously for now on its one dog for me. I love my babies don't get me wrong and I would not give them up for anything, but when they pass and its down to the last one, it will be one dog only. My poor ole' nerves want take it.

i thinkk they are happy to have buddies just as people are. and as long as they get itme with their humans, separately and together it shoudl ve fine. the bond they have with a human is different from their bond with another pup. my two love each other to pieces adn one cries when the other leaves the room. they are rarely more than 6 feet from one another. and i get such a thrill out of watching them together- they are better than cable tv!!!

however, don't be delusional- it is just like having 2 little kids- both wanting your attention at the same time, fighting over the same toy, wrestling all the time, and i find with 2 they listen way worse that together than they do individually. but, i wouldnt trade having 2 for all the tea in china. there is somethign priceless about coming home to, or waking up to, 2 wet noses and 8 paws all over you!!! and i dont know how i'd watch tv without all the dead weight in my lap!!!

I must say I agree with Sand. My two are only interested in me and are always jealous of the other. The only time they are interested in the other is if they are alone together outside, they will play for a bit but for the most part they are always lying in front of the door watching me. I is a lot of work and I too will never have more than one dog at a time. I have a hard time trying to give each one individual attention. I should clarify, I find my Aussies overwhelming but I can't give them up. I had a Gordon Setter and a border collie at the same time and they weren't like that. Maybe it just depends on the dog? I could easily see me ending up like Pavack with the cute little dogs, lol!

I have two mix pups, Elie and Digger. They are 9 months. Digger was suppose to be an only dog but when i went to pick him up Elie was the only other one with out a home. So she came home to. For the most part they get along. There is always a fight for who gets the best toy, biggest treat, or who gets mommy's lap. I think they enjoy eachothers company. When there not fighting about something they are snuggled up together at my feet.

Well i think dogs raised alone tend to really depend on their owners alot for companionship, I just know I am so grateful that I have TWO boston Terriers the same age, even though both are very needy little dogs and it seems like they want something all the time, really it has helped alot having the two of them they help entertain each other giving me a much needed break lol. My other two Bubba and Spook are also big buddies and entertain each other, I hardly know they are around, my Rodeo on the other hand only likes people she refuses to socialize with"dogs". But having more than one dog is alot of work but it in a wayis easier in that they don't depend on you ALL the time!

Well, I thought the same thing and got Toby a playmate. I have to say, it was a rough first few months and I think if Toby could talk he would have said, "Get that big bully peeing on me dog out of here now, MOM!" Toby was the center of attention and spoiled rotten. I thought he was lonely and needed a buddy. I should have probably waited for a female because Toby is a male. Anyway, after the initial battles of who is the KING dog around here, they have settled into really liking each other. They still squabble some but I think deep down Toby would miss Max now if we got rid of him.

I wanted to have two dogs of the same breed and I got a boy and a girl because "boys and girls rarely fight" but I am currently in the process of adopting out my female because ever since I added her to the house, they've been in a contest over everything. They fight on a daily basis and twice in the last two weeks there has been a medical emergency that resulted. I still want to try again with another dog, hopefully I can find one that won't be aggressive. She didn't start out that way at all, but once it started, it escalated rapidly. I asked the lead contact at the rescue organization that is placing my female and he said I should work on training my male (who is currently 9 mo. old) first. Socialize him very well, take him around lots of kids, put him through obedience training, and wait until he is at least 18 months old and has calmed down a little. Also, it is important to have him neutered if he's not going to be a stud dog not only for calming but also for cancer prevention. Then at that time, bring a young puppy into the home and let him kind of raise the new puppy. This is the best way to avoid jealous aggression. That was input from a highly experienced breeder and rescue organization coordinator. If you decide to go ahead and add another dog now, I really hope it works for you. I hope you don't go through what I've been going through. Lots of times dogs just get along fine. Good luck.

somethign else to think about- the expense is twice, obviously. with littel dogs, food and treats isnt a noticable difference, but two times the heartworm meds, 2 X flea meds, 2 X vet visits can add up. when flea season comes i'm looking at $20 a month just to keep them flea free.